Lafarge cement plant health study road map

The state Health Department has spent more than a year working up a study on potential public health effects possibly linked to pollution in the vicinity of the Lafarge cement plant in Ravena.

Last week, department staffers gave a closed-door update on the progress of the study to a community panel formed by Lafarge. The panel includes company officials, as well as Ravena Mayor John Bruno.

Word has is that the first phase of the report is nearly ready to be released publicly, but DOH officials were adamant that the purpose of the meeting was not to give Lafarge a sneak peak at the report, but merely provide a “status update” on the progress of creating the report.

The Phase I report will examine potential environmental exposure to pollution from the cement plant. The second phase will address the potential impact of that exposure on the people living nearby.

When asked for any presentation documents that DOH used for the Lafarge panel briefing, the department’s press office released this earlier today, along with the statement:

“A phase one report is expected to be released later this fall and members of the public will be invited to read, review and comment on the phase one report. A phase two report is planned for release before spring, and all members of the public will be invited to read, review and comment.”